When you eat out, do you prefer local restaurants or big chains?

Question

For the most part I enjoy the local place. Only chain I like is long horn.

Agape93 · Accepted Answer

I prefer @valentina4eva in small linked golden chains... 😉

Natasha1995 · Accepted Answer

Local.

James The Foodie · Accepted Answer

I’m with you, local spots almost every time 🍽️
They usually have more personality, seasonal dishes, and those quirky recipes you can’t find anywhere else.

When I travel, I hunt down family-run places or tiny street stalls; that’s where I’ve had my best meals, from ramen counters in Tokyo to trattorias in Rome.

Chains are fine for predictability, but locals tell the real food story ❤️

Lliam · Answer

I prefer independently owned and operated. I avoid large, chain restaurants.
I want to support independent rather than corporate owned. And I know independently owned restaurants that have amazing food.
I'm talking about restaurants, not fast food.

FreyaRed · Answer

Local restaurants make often better food, big chains warm up industrially produced food the comes often precooked and frozen.

drummerdude25 · Answer

There are a few chains I don’t mind, and I do stop for fast food more than I care to admit, out of convenience, but I like supporting all the local gems around much more. Local coffee shops, there are some really great cafes and bakeries around…

On weekends that’s exactly what I do. I almost draw a “hard line” and make a point to go get a nice lunch at the bakery, get a smoothie or coffee from a local coffee roaster, hang out downtown, just to support and feel part of the community.

Life just feels better this way these days, idk… really trying to do weekends the right way.

OneViewpoint · Answer

Locally owned, usually family owned places. I want to support the people with businesses in my community, not corporate investors somewhere else. The quality of food in corporate chains generally takes a backseat to profits. That shit will kill you. It's engineered based on salt, fats, and sugar. The menu in a corporate chain is decided centrally based on sales. It tends to be pretty bland and uninteresting almost like you could carry the same menu from chain to chain. Family owned places and ethnic restaurants tend to have a lot more variety and interesting options, including locally sourced stuff like seafood and seasonal produce.

RavVid · Answer

I would never go to a chain unless on a road trip. Or in North America.

When a Starbucks tried to open, a local cafe put up a sign "Friends Don't Let Friends Go To Starbucks". It has become a local meme for anything that will have broad social disapproval.

Massageman · Answer

Any of the "local spots" we had in our area are either folding or moving to areas a bit further away from us (read that as residents having more money). We had a great little Mexican bakery with their apartment flat above the shop. They had great conchas. Anyway, I made them some signage, but they just couldn't eke it out and they left after three years. Replaced with a Domino's. :-(

Staximus · Answer

If I go in and sit down, it’s usually privately owned local places. With fast food it’s usually Jack In The Box, Del Taco, or In-N-Out. There are a few privately owned fast food places like burger stands, but they aren’t open late and I’m always up late

emeraldsaphire · Answer

Depends on how much time I have. If I want a quick meal, then I'll go to McDonald's or something. Or if I'm traveling and I want to eat something familiar; I'll go to the Olive garden.

midnightmoon05 · Answer

I don’t like chain restaurants.  local/mom and pop shops.

Mark_Est · Answer

I dont eat out, was a chef for a while, have seen plenty of the shit that goes on in the back. No thanks. I cook 5star meals at home for friends and ladies.

Kassandra1994 · Answer

I cook at home , You know someone can get witch carft into your food and make a cursed yeah no I rather make my own meals.

ShellyB · Answer

1 Local place I know and like 2 Local place someone I trust recommends 3 Chain I like 4 Unknown local place 5 Chain I do not like

slatyb · Answer

There are very few chain restaurants in Seattle. I don't like the "fast casual" restaurants like Applebee's because the food is terrible I will eat at sub shops like Potbelly if there's nothing else.

lilBigPotato · Answer

Almost only local. I think there's way less big chains here anyway compared to the US.

Amy10223 · Answer

Local restaurants are nicer and more original than chains.

EmmaMary · Answer

If and when we ever eat out, we will always support a local restaurant.

SamIam96 · Answer

99.44% local with a visit to McDonald's every year or two. I would never choose a chain. If friends or family do, I'd join them.

HighValue · Answer

I prefer Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. Almost every restaurant I have been to disappointed me with at least one item on my plate, and often it was two or all three. Most restaurants are low quality overpriced garbage.

Just_Ken · Answer

I avoid McDonald's, waffle houses, poppies, kfc etc as those places are warzones

ChiTown33 · Answer

I don't eat out a lot. But when i do i prefer big chains. It's a known quality. That's not to say i won't try a new place that intrigues me.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Always local. The bigger the chain, the worse the food.

MrChinaski · Answer

The only reason to eat chain food is on road trips. You want fuel, fast. It's always awful, but it's a known awful.

DonaldDarko · Answer

Always local. I don't feel safe eating at big chains. They use too many shady tricks like reusing oil over and over or serving bizarre concoctions like Burger King's phony milk shakes. I don't think that stuff is safe to eat.

AviatorTom · Answer

We eat at both, though I suspect we eat a bit more often at locally-owned restaurants

bear34 · Answer

It depends on what kind of food I like. I usually prefer local restaurants.

exitseven · Answer

There are a couple of local places I frequent and there is a regional chain that is good too.

DishLady · Answer

I only go to places owned by friends, where I know the chef and the quality of the food, good ambiance, etc.

RareBreedOfMan · Answer

I prefer small restaurant chains.

browsingthroughthe · Answer

Big chains as much as possible 😉 surely safety in numbers applies to less odds of food poisoning or bad bacterial habits 👀😎

Iron_Man · Answer

Local restaurants are good if they’re high-quality but I also like chains so that’s fine

Cecinene · Answer

I'll always prefer local restaurants because their cooks are good and their foods are always the best

SmartAss06 · Answer

Big chains always... i want to be clean with my food

dougeats · Answer

Local big chains is fast food. Except for the Capital Grills etc

Athenathehuntress · Answer

Local  Big chains when I feel like I wanna spend

LiamS95 · Answer

I love to cook and eat quality food so I rarely eat out but on the rare occasion that I do I usually go to a family owned and operated restaurant.

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

Longhorn is pretty good, I haven't seen any of them on the west coast since I moved here. Yes, I definitely agree. Local places tend to have more quality than the big chains.

Chichi90 · Answer

I prefer affordable prices and quality

TsundereMatrix · Answer

We try eating out locally

Veronika_p · Answer

I prefer home made food

Abbycado · Answer

Definitely local restaurants.

Pretendingtobesweet · Answer

If you want hook up you go local

jazzy34 · Answer

Depends on which one is cheaper.

fishbone77 · Answer

local for sure.

nolabels · Answer

Mom and Pop joints are my go-tos.

lessthansane · Answer

Local always. Better odds of quality food

Essa1212 · Answer

Local. I never choose big chains.

NathanDavis · Answer

local

Danny_dan92 · Answer

Local spots are usually the best

LiamJHayden · Answer

Local. Zabbs and Coliseum.

Zarek · Answer

Local spots are the best

mat566 · Answer

Local

kinks1951 · Answer

Local

TonyMetal___1986 · Answer

Both...

When you eat out, do you prefer local restaurants or big chains?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

AI Opinion

What Girls & Guys Said

Are you more likely to go to a chain restaurant or local eatery?